My Divine Emissary Episode 2 Recap
> My Divine Emissary Recap
Li Mengmeng found herself living in the eunuch quarters, a crowded place where men shared rooms. The constant snoring and mosquitoes made it impossible for her to sleep. Desperate, she climbed over the wall at night. She encountered a vendor named Zhou Quan, who was selling various items, including books like "Romantic Prince Heqin" and "His Majesty's Likes and Dislikes." Zhou Quan offered to answer one question for free since it was their first meeting.
Li Mengmeng asked what kind of person the Emperor was. Zhou Quan described Qi Yan as impetuous and unpredictable, young, and under the influence of Chancellor Cui and Prince Heqin. She claimed he preferred tinkering with new gadgets over state affairs, leading people to see him as a spoiled kid who was less popular than Prince Heqin. Zhou Quan asked for three taels for her book. Li Mengmeng admitted she had no money but offered a gold bean.
Zhou Quan accepted it and asked if Li Mengmeng was new, warning her that the eunuch quarters were difficult to navigate and that rumors suggested a new eunuch was sent by higher-ups to spy. She advised Li Mengmeng to be careful. Life in the quarters was tough. Li Mengmeng was targeted and cut in line when food was distributed, leaving her with only soup by the time it was her turn.
Hungry and scared at night, she held a doll her father had given her, wishing she could go home. Another eunuch in the room saw her and told her he also missed home when he first arrived but eventually got used to it. He asked to see her doll, and she showed it to him without hesitation. That night, while Li Mengmeng slept, the eunuch placed a paper with a talisman and needles inside the doll.
Li Mengmeng later wandered into the Imperial Study Room and fell asleep. When Emperor Qi Yan arrived and found her there, she claimed she had missed him so much the previous night that she couldn't sleep and had just fallen asleep as soon as she arrived. Her stomach then audibly growled.
Remembering Zhou Quan's secret advice that the Emperor was afraid of crying and would soften and compromise if someone cried, Li Mengmeng began to sob loudly, lamenting her difficult life in the quarters and her hunger. Qi Yan, visibly uncomfortable, asked what she wanted and offered compensation. Li Mengmeng continued crying, asking for the urn she had arrived in this world with. Qi Yan quickly agreed.
Soon after, the eunuch who had spoken to Li Mengmeng in the quarters appeared, holding her doll. He accused Li Mengmeng of practicing witchcraft and prepared to take her to the Empress Dowager. Li Mengmeng protested, saying it was just her doll, but other eunuchs claimed they saw her playing with it. Just as they were about to drag her away, Chancellor Cui Anshi arrived.
He dismissed the accusation as a minor matter involving a mere eunuch and ordered them to beat Li Mengmeng to death instead of bothering the Empress Dowager. Li Mengmeng cried out for the Emperor's help. Qi Yan arrived immediately, declaring Li Mengmeng was his person and forbidding anyone to touch her. Qi Yan demanded to see the doll. Li Mengmeng asked if she could examine the talisman.
She pointed out the ink on the left side of the writing, deducing that the person who wrote it must be left-handed. Based on this clue, Qi Yan was able to identify the framing eunuch, who immediately began begging for mercy. Qi Yan noted that Li Mengmeng was newly assigned to the Imperial Study Room, full of clever ideas, and made things to amuse him.
He told her that from now on she belonged to him and should report anyone who bullied her. He arranged for her to be moved to a room next to another eunuch named Lu Huan. Li Mengmeng asked how he knew she was in trouble, and Qi Yan replied that he knew everything in the palace. Seeing him as her rescuer, Li Mengmeng promised to fulfill any reasonable request he had.
It was later revealed that the framing eunuch and several others involved had been punished. Meanwhile, Chancellor Cui Anshi reported the incident to the Empress Dowager, expressing concern over Qi Yan's impulsiveness. He suggested that becoming a father might help him mature and urged the Empress Dowager to arrange the marriage between Qi Yan and Cui Wan'er soon. The Empress Dowager agreed to consider it. Li Mengmeng encountered Scholar Zhen Xu, who was meticulously calculating the approximation for the circumference.
She asked if he had finished. He shared his calculation. Li Mengmeng told him his answer was very close and then recited many more digits of pi, explaining that it was the wisdom of ancient Chinese mathematicians like Zu Chongzhi. Qi Yan arrived and was impressed by Li Mengmeng's knowledge. Li Mengmeng then showed Qi Yan her phone, explaining how it worked as a calculator using Arabic numerals.
She demonstrated how to input numbers and perform calculations like pi and exponents, explaining that fifty threes multiplied together resulted in a large number displayed on the screen. She also showed him division. While they were looking at the phone, Noble Consort Cui Wan'er arrived, sent by the Empress Dowager to pay her respects and bring broth for Qi Yan. Li Mengmeng was stunned, recognizing Cui Wan'er as her friend Duo from her own time.
She rushed forward to grab her, calling her Duo and asking if she had also come here. Cui Wan'er's attendant pushed Li Mengmeng away and threatened to punish her for offending the Noble Consort. Qi Yan intervened, reminding the attendant that Li Mengmeng was his person. Cui Wan'er then informed Qi Yan that the date for their marriage had been set by the high priest and the Empress Dowager expected him to be there at the auspicious time.
Qi Yan acknowledged this and dismissed her. Li Mengmeng was distraught, declaring that Qi Yan couldn't marry Cui Wan'er if there was no affection and warning that children born from such a marriage would suffer. She wondered if this Cui Wan'er was truly her friend Duo, but decided to focus on finding water for the urn so she could go home.
During a morning audience, Minister Gu reported that Prince Heqin (Qi Su) would arrive in the capital the next day. He argued that Qi Yan should personally greet the prince at the city gate given his military achievements. Chancellor Cui Anshi disagreed, saying it was inappropriate for the Emperor to lower himself for a prince and warning that the prince's battlefield "aura" might harm the Emperor. The ministers debated heatedly until Qi Yan abruptly dismissed the court.
After the audience, Qi Yan's subordinates interpreted Minister Gu's suggestion as an attempt to insult him. Qi Yan downplayed it but suspected Prince Heqin's sudden return with troops might have other motives. He then commented that the prince's return was convenient because Li Mengmeng had also arrived in the capital from Lu County, and he needed an excuse to go out and see her.
As people gathered at the city gate to welcome Prince Heqin, Li Mengmeng, who was complaining about the difficulty of finding water to fill her urn, saw Qi Yan trying to sneak out of the palace and was shushed by him. At the city gate, Qi Yan's officials announced the prince's arrival, but the Emperor was nowhere to be seen, causing confusion and whispers among the ministers and crowd about Qi Yan's disregard for protocol. The crowd cheered for Prince Heqin as he arrived.
